Reduction of binary sulfate mixtures containing CuSO4 by H2

Abstract

The reduction of a binary sulfate mixture cannot be predicted from the behavior of the individual components. Thus, while CuSO4 is reduced to Cu at 400 °C and NiSO4 is reduced to Ni3S2, the sulfate mixture yields Cu, Ni3S2, and Cu2S. Also while FeSO4 is completely stable in H2 at 400 °C, (Cu,Fe) SO4 yields Cu and Cu5FeS4. The formation of Cu2S in the first case and Cu5FeS4 in the second was unexpected. On the other hand, (Cu,Mn)SO4 is stable in H2 up to 550 °C although pure CuSO4 is completely reduced at 400 °C. CoSO4 also interferes when reduced in presence of CuSO4, while Na2SO4, MgSO4, Al2(SO4)3, ZnSO4, CdSO4 do not interfere within limited temperature range. Of these only Na2SO4 forms a complex sulfate with CuSO4. No Cu2SO4 was identified when CuSO4 was reduced in presence of other sulfates although it is an intermediate product during the reduction of pure CuSO4.